Pumping system



April 6 1926. A 1,579,617

F. D. HoLDswoRTH PUMPING SYSTEM Filed July 28, 1919 `1 T N: ha

#s um.

atented Apr. 6, 1926.

unirse STATES PATENT ferries. l

FRED D. noLnswonrn, or' cLAnnivioN'r, New HAMPSHIRE, Assreiion trovSULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A coaroaa'rioii or iviessncnusiirrs f'runrrinel SYSTEM.

Application'iled July 28, 12:?19. Serial No. l313,852.l

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the "countyof Sullivan and State ci New Hampshire, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pump-` ing Systems, otwhich the following is avfull, clear, and exact speciiication.

My invention relates topuinping systems.

It'has for its object to lprovide an iniproved and simpliiied pumpingsystem and one especially adapted touse under those conditions wherein'a plurality vor" operating pressures is required. A further object 0tinyinvention is to yprovide an Yimproved and simplified pumping systemVespecially adaptedV to use in connection with well pumping and moreespecially to. oil well pumping wherein a high initial or startingpressure is required to blow ofi the head above the pump and a lowrunning pressure is sufficient to maintain the vsupply after-the i'iowfromA the well has been :,started.v These and other objCt-s andadvantages of my iinproved constructionywill, however, herein- Forpurposes of illustration I haveshown in the accompanying drawings twoforms which my invention may assume in practice, illustrating the sameherein as applied to use in connection withl an Vair lift systemadaptedto well pumping. In these drawings,-

vvFig. 1 is a side elevation partiallyin `s ection showing a pumpingsystem embodying one forni oi' my invention. y

Fig. 2 is a detailed view partiallyin section showing a incdiliedconstruction adapted to beincorporated In this illustrativeconstruction/I Vhave shown an air lift' system including a'multi stagecompressor 1, havingV a low vpressure cylinder 2 discharging intoan.intercooler 3 which in turn communicates with a high r' pressurecylindert delivering to a receiver 5, .the receiver in turn'Vcommunicating throu h piping herein controlled by a check valve 6 with adown pipe V'v1' ofA an airY lift pump 8 disposed within the well casing9 and` discharging into a discharge line 10.

In my improvedlconstruction, -it ywillbe observed that I have vprovidedimproved co-l operating compressing means ofperatively 1,whichmeans'serve further to-'compress Athe cylinder. Y

in said system.1

the `pressurek fluid compressed thereby and are adapted to be renderedoperative orinoperative at will without interfering With theOperationfof theunit' 1. While Vthese* l meansv maj/"assume, variousforms, in fthe forni of my invention shownin Fig.L l it will beovb'sei'vedfthat I' havejcoiinected asupplemental` piston Illl coaxiallywith the pistonot the lowpressure` cylinder 2'- and that I haveconnecteda supplementalcylinder 12,1 herein a kdouble actingsinglefstagecylinderycoaxially with 'theV low .pressure rcylii1der2-the supplementalcylinder beingA provided with vusualintalre valves 13V preterably of thesuction typefoontrollingV the supply of air supplied from the receiverto the c y'rli'nderv 12 through a pipe'lhjand' usual discharge 'valves15 discharging into adischarge pipe 16 controlled by a throttle valve17, vand connected to the down pipes? ot the pump. KA.f valve 1T islikewise vpro?" fvi'de'd in the pipe line 14. Also it will Ybe observedthat I haveprdvidedcontrolling means *yiherein ina I'ormfadaptedtoren'der this' supplemental cylinder ineffectiveby valves' 13 andthereby raise `the latter from su f theirseats 2O in such a manner as tounload'.v

` In Fig. 2 I have illustratedk ak modified construction which may beembodied in the supplemental cylindeiit' desired. In thisconstruction-it will befobserved that inlety Vand#discharge valvesareprovided at each end ofthe .cylinder as heretofore and that a1 web21is'provided substantially midway between the'ends of theinlet anddischarge' openings in such a manner as to convert =the cylinder'into'af single acting 'twolstage i this being accomplished.` by so.proportioning' the piston rod that the volumes at opposite sides of thepiston willl cylinder,

be in correct ratio for multi-stagev operation.

Here it will beiioted'that I'have also pro lvided-a supplementalconnection 22leading from the discharge' Vchamber of the low pressure.discharge, herein indicated at 23, toy lthe high'pressure inlet chamber,herein indicated at 24. yBy this construction it willj Y be observedthat the air compressed'by the V'uniti lthrougli a plurality ofpstagesand received by the supplemental cylinder, is` compressed by the latterthrough two additional stages in such a manner as even further toincrease its pressure before it is delivered to the discharge pipe 16leadingto the pump.

ln the operation of my improved system, it will be observed that the airis compressed through a plurality ot, stages by the compresser unit land delivered thereby to the receiver 5 which is; in turn connected t0the down pipe 7 ot the pump 8 and to the pipe let leading tothe intakeoit" the supplelllntal cylinder, the la ter alsobeing connected to thedown pipe 7. As a result, whenthe controlling members 18 are lowered outot engagement with the suction valve members 19 of the supplementalcylinder and the valve 17 is open, the fluid compressed through twostages by the unit l will be further compressed in the supplementalcylinder either through an additional stage or two additional stages;depending upon whether the construction shown in Fig. l or that shown inFig. 2 is used, and delivered trom the supplemental cylinder at a: veryhigh pressure to the down pipe of thev pump through which it acts toblow ott1 the head accumulated in the head above the pump, i. e. tostart the well. lVhenthe well is thus started it will also be observedthat by simply advancing the, controlling members 18 insuch amanner asthereby to elevate the suction inlet valve members 1,9,A and thereafterpreferably also closing the. valves. in the` connections leading to andfrom that cylinder, the latter will be unloaded and thereatterfcut outof thel circuit without in any way interfering` with the continuedoperation of the unit l, which continues to supply the low pressuresufficient to maintain the well iiow.

As a result of my improved construction, it will be observed that it ispossible materially to decrease the cost-of` a pumping installation ofthe character set forth, it only being necessary to connect to acompressor ofl standard; construction aH supplemental cylinder and toconnect this cylinder by suitable piping to thefreceiver and the do-wnpipe of the pump. It will also be noted that this supplemental cylinderduring operation in no way interferes with the operation ot the primarylmmping unit and that as soon as this cylinder is unloaded, that unit isenabled to operate without appreciable additional load during the normalpumping operation. t will also be observed that whenever desired thesupplemental cylinder and its connected parts' may be removed trom theprimary unit, thereby enabling the latter to be used in otherrelationswhen desired.

Vhile `l: have in this application speciiically describedftwo termswhich my'invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthese forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and thatthe invention may be modified and embodied in other forms. withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

That l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l.. In an air lift pumping system, means adapted to discharge an excessand normal head including a down pipe and supply means connectedthereto, said latte -means comprising a compressor mechanism, acooperating compressor mechanism driven thereby and, connected inmulti-stage relation therewith, and' means for rendering said lastmentioned mechanism ineffective while continuing the operation ot theother.

2. In an air litt pumping system, means adapted to discharge an excessand normal head includingV a down pipe and supply means connectedthereto, said latter means comprising a compressor mechanism, acooperating compressor mechanism driven thereby and connected inmulti-stage relation therewith, and'means for unloading the lattermechanism while continuing the operation of the former.

3. In an air litt pumping system, means adapted to discharge first anexcess and then a normal head including a down pipe and supply meansconnected thereto, said latter means comprising` a compressor mechanisminclu-ding a cylinder and a reciprocating piston, a cooperatingcompressor mechanism including` a cylinder and a piston driven by saidpiston, and means for unloading said last mentioned cylinder whilecontinuing the operation of both ot said pistons..

it. In an airlift pumping system, means adapted to discharge an excessand normal head including a Ydown pipe and supply means connectedthereto, said latter means comprising a multi-stage compressor, areceiver receiving the dischargetherefrom, a cooperating' multi-stagecompressor driven by saidv compressor and having its intake suppliedfrom said receiver, andv means for unloading said cooperating compressorwhen desired.

5. In a pumping system, means adapted to discharge an excess and normalhead including a multi-stage compressor, a receiver prcssor mechanism, amulti-stage cylinderv connected thereto and havingapiston there-indriven by said mechanism, a receiver connected betiveeii` said firstmentionedA com pressorand the inlet of said cylinder, an air littpuinp-connectedto said cylinder and to said receiver,'and means vforunloading said cylinder when desired.l

`7. In a pumping` Systemy havingv an air lift pump` adapted to dischargean excess and `normal head 'from a single level', means `for actuatingsai'dpuinpl comprising compressor mechanism includingv a cylinder and apiston therein, cooperating compressor mechanism including a coaxially`disposed oylinderand a piston thereinniovable With said iirst mentionedpiston, valve mechanism in said last mentioned cylinder, and meanscao-operating WithV said valve mechanism for unloading said lastmentioned cylinder While continuing compressiony in said lirst mentionedcylinder.

' 8. In a compressor mechanism, a compressor including a cylinder andamovable piston, a receiver connected to said cylinder, a cocperatingcompressor mechanism including a cylinder and a piston inthe lattermovable with said first mentioned piston, and inlet valves controllingthe supply to said cylinder from said receiver, an air lift pumpconnected to saidreceiver and to said last mentioned cylinder, saidVpump being adapted to discharge from a single level both an excessandnormal head, andjmeans for operating said valves to unload saidcylinder.

9. In an airl-ift pumping system, an air lift pump having a vdovvn pipe,and means for supplying pumping fluid to said doWn pipe at differentpressuresl comprising a compressor, a receiver connectedto the dischargeside thereof, avalved connection between said receiver and said downpipe, a second compressor driven by said firstY compressor-and havingits intake connected to said receiver and also having a valvedconnection to said'down pipe, and means cooperating ivith the inletvalves of vsaid last mentioned compressor to unload the latter at ivill.l s i '10. In an air lift pumping system, any air lift pump having adown pipe terminating in a foot piece Whichdischarges at a single level,means or supplying pumping tluid'to said foot piece at a pressureVsufficient .to maintain the pump in operation when normally running,comprising ka compressor Whose' discharge is connected to said downpipe,'and means for raising the pressure of the pumpingv fluid supply`for said down pipe sufliciently to enable discharge vof [a Yhead Whosestatic pressure is in excess ofthe discharge pressure ofl saidcompressor comprising ai second compressoi'driven from saidfirst*mentionedcompressor; i ll. In an vair hit pumping system, an airlift pump having down pipeterminating in a foot piece,means forsupplying pump# ing fluid to said foot piece at a. pressure suticient tomaintain the pump in operation Wlien'normallyv running comprisingafcoin! presser, a receiver to which saidv compressor discharges, and aconnection between the latter andthe ldown pipe providedl with a checkvalve opening towards the downpipe, the` initial submergence of said.foot piece being such that the static head to be overcome'is in' excessof the designed .discharge pressureof said compressor, and means forraising the pressure of the pumping fluid lsupplyfor said down pipesuiliciently to ciiable discharge of the excess head comprising at asingle level, means adapted to discharge onlyy a normal head in saidsystem, and a second means actuated by and cooperating` with saidlatter-means for discharging an excessive head betere normal operationor Vsaid system.

Y'13. In an air lift pumping system having stantially a single level, avplurality o means having pumpingmeans adapted to discharge at subnadapted tov discharge a normal and excess head, and means for eii'ectingthe operation `ot one of said latter means by the other thereof. l n

14. In an air lift pumping system having pumping means kfor discharging'an 'excess and normal head, a g plurality of means adapted to`discharge said heads, and means including mechanically connected meansfor eliecting the operationrof one'ofrsaid latter means'by the otherthereof. Y e

l5. In an air lifty system, the combination including a pump adapted todischarge frein a single level, and means for effecting operationV ofsaid pump including compressor mechanism comprising low pressurecompressing means having a receiver and a discharge linejconnected tosaid receiver, high pressure compressing means driven by vsaid firstmentioned means having a separatedischarge line and its inletconnectedyto said receiver, the fluid underloiv pressure being discharged 'througha'single conduit, and

means Whereby'during discharge of fluidv under lowk pressure, fluid flowunder highpressure is discontinued.

` Y 16. In anair 4lift systein,.the combination including a pumpadapted'to 'discharge from a single level, and means for eectingopenation of said 'pump Vincluding compressor Y 'mechanismcomprising aloWpressure compressingnieans having al receiver anda dischargelineconnected to said receiver, high Jressure com ir'essino' means driven hf.said

J'irst mentioned means having its inlet con-V nected to said receiver'and a separate discharge line connectedto said first mentioned dischargeline, and the fluid flow under low pressure being;` discharged through asingle coi luit, and means whereby duringr dischai 'e ot i'iuid underloW pressure, fluid iow high ,pressure is discontinued. n air littpumping system having' pumping n'ieaus adapted to discharge an eX- cessand normal head including a plurality oli mechanically connectedcompressor elements one being' operative to pump the' exw cess head andthe other the normal head.

in an air liit pumpingv system having pumpin means adapted to dischargean excess and normal head 'from a single level, a

plurality of means for ctlectine; the air supply and adapted to allowdischarge olf a normal and excess head, and means whereby the actuationof one of said means is dependent upon the other thereof.

19. ln an air litt pumping;` system having" pumping means adapted todischarge at substantially a single level7 a unitary compressorn'iechanism adapted to generate Varying degrees ot' pressure of the airsupply, the latter at certain pressures being` adapted to discharge anexcess head, while the air at other pressures is adapted to disL chargeva normal head but insullicient to discharge' the excess head.

fln testimony Whereotl I affix my signature.

FRED D. HOLDSVORTH.

